Processing of photographic roll film

ABSTRACT

A method and device for processing photographic roll film, in which the film is carried by a flexible band which is wound spirally on a squirrel cage reel and releasably fixed at each end to the reel.

United States Patent [191 Ramsdale [4 1 Oct. 9, 1973 PROCESSING OFPHOTOGRAPHIC ROLL FILM [75 Inventor: Roy Ramsdale, Willowdale, Ontario,

, Canada [73] Assignee: Alex L. Clark Limited, Toronto,

Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: June 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 261,557

[52] US. Cl. 95/93, 95/90.5 [51] Int. Cl. 603d 3/08 [58] Field of Search95/93, 90.5, 96,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1934 Henderson 95/937/1911 Judd 95/90.5 7/1962 Fulton 95/94 R Primary Examiner-Richard L.Moses Attorney-Lewis E. Hanley et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A method and device for processing photographic rollfilm, in which the film is carried by a flexible band which is woundspirally on a squirrel cage reel and releasably fixed at each end to thereel.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PROCESSING OF PHOTOGRAPI-IIC ROLL FILM Thepresent invention relates to a reel for use in processing photographicroll film.

Reels for processing photographic film are used in processing tankswhere the film is wound peripherally on a drum and the drum is mountedcoaxially on a shaft whereby the film passes through liquid chemicallying in the bottom portion of the tank as the shaft is rotated. To windthe roll film on the drum it is necessary to provide guideways the widthof the film and consequently a separate reel must be provided for eachsize of film.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device,for processing roll film, which will accomodate different sizes of filmusing a single reel.

An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reel having a carrier band mounted onit;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternate embodiment ofthe invention.

The exemple embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of a reel of squirrelcage construction having a pair of spaced, circular end members 12having arcuate openings 13 and intercon-nected by a plurality ofparallel, spaced rods 14 located on a cylindrical locus. Adjacent oneend member 12, one of rods 14 carries a pin 18a projecting laterallyoutward from the rod, and adjacent the other end member 12 a second pin18b projects outwardly from one of rods 14. An aperture 20 at the centreof each end member 12 is shaped to receive a coaxial shaft (not shown)with a radial slot 22 to enable reel 10 to be keyed onto the shaft.

A separate carrier band is provided for mounting roll film 50. Band 30is of flexible material enabling it to be wound onto reel 10. As seen incross-section in FIG. 2, band 30 is flat on its lower face 34 while theupper face of the band is concave to form a trough 35 with an upstandingrib 36 along each side edge of the band. Spaced slots 40 are locatedalong the centre line of the band, except at each end of the band whichcarries a row of apertures 42.

In the operation of the device a roll of film which is to be processedis laid on band 30, the proper width of band being chosen for thepurpose. As seen in FIG. 2, a space 52 is defined beneath film 50because of the transverse rigidity of the film and concavity of trough35 of band 30, and access to space 52 is provided by slots 40. Band 30is then mounted on reel 10 by engaging pin 18a in one of apertures 42 atone end 54 of the band and the band is wound spirally around thecylindrical locus formed by rods 10 as indicated in FIG. 1. Band 30 isof a length such that its unattached end 56 will terminate adjacent pin18b at the other end of the reel, which may be made to engage apertures42 at end 56 of the bands. Both pins 18 are located on their respectiverods 14 a distance from end members 12 sufficient to allow differentwidths of band 30 or 60 to be engaged by the pins.

In the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, bands 60are provided which are the same as band 30 except that a longitudinalgroove 62 is provided along each side edge of lower face 34 of each band60 whereby the bands may nest one on another by fitting upstanding ribs36 of a lower band 60a into grooves 62 in a next higher band b.

Bands 30 or 60 may be made of any suitable material which is formretaining and flexible and is inert to the liquid chemicals used inprocessing the roll film. Polyvinylchloride is one example of such amaterial It will be appreciated that, by using device of the presentinvention, band 30 or band 60a may be mounted on reel 10 in the lightand it is then simple to load roll film 50 in the dark and, in thealternate embodiment of tiered bands, to wind band 60b onto the reel inthe dark. Bands 30 or 60, of different widths to accommodate differentsizes of roll film, may conveniently be stored in roll form in adispenser and cut to the proper length for use on reel 10, in which caserows of holes 42 would be located in the bands at convenient lengths.

I claim:

1. A device for processing photographic roll film, com-prising:

an elongated band of flexible material constructed to receive said filmlaid longitudinally on one face of the band and to provide access ofliquid to each side of the film when located on the band;

a reel having a spaced pair of end members and a plurality of rodsmounted in parallel, spaced relationship on the end means and arrangedto form a cylindrical cage; and

means releasably to attach each end of the band to the reel when theband is wound spirally on the cylindrical cage..

2. A device as claimed in claim I in which said one face of the band istransversely concave to form a trough to receive the film therein, andspaced slots located along the trough of the convex face.

3. A device as claimed in claim I in which one end of the band isattachable to one of the rods adjacent one of the end members and theother end of the band is attachable to one of the rods adjacent theother end member.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the attachment meanscomprises a pair of pins each fixed to one of the rods and projectingoutwardly therefrom one adjacent each of the end members, and a row ofapertures located longitudinally along the strip adjacent each endthereof to receive said pins.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a pair of parallelupstanding ribs located along each side of said one face of the band,and a pair of parallel grooves located along each side of the other faceof the band to receive the ribs of a coextensive second bond and nestthereon.

1. A device for processing photographic roll film, comprising: anelongated band of flexible material constructed to receive said filmlaid longitudinally on one face of the band and to provide access ofliquid to each side of the film when located on the band; a reel havinga spaced pair of end members and a plurality of rods mounted inparallel, spaced relationship on the end means and arranged to form acylindrical cage; and means releasably to attach each end of the band tothe reel when the band is wound spirally on the cylindrical cage.
 2. Adevice as claimed in claim 1 in which said one face of the band istransversely concave to form a trough to receive the film therein, andspaced slots located along the trough of the convex face.
 3. A device asclaimed in claim 1 in which one end of the band is attachable to one ofthe rods adjacent one of the end members and the other end of the bandis attachable to one of the rods adjacent the other end member.
 4. Adevice as claimed in claim 3 in which the attachment means comprises apair of pins each fixed to one of the rods and projecting outwardlytherefrom one adjacent each of the end members, and a row of apertureslocated longitudinally along the strip adjacent each end thereof toreceive said pins.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a pair ofparallel upstanding ribs located along each side of said one face of theband, and a pair of parallel grooves located along each side of theother face of the band to receive the ribs of a coextensive second bondand nest thereon.